Former Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar has outrightly rejected the concept of the four-day Test matches which has been proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to bring in for the World Test Championship from 2023. According to Akhtar, ICC cannot implement the idea without the approval of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which under Sourav Ganguly will never give it a nod.

Talking on his Youtube channel, Akhtar said, “The idea to play four-day Test match is rubbish and no one should be interested in it. BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly is an intelligent man and he will not let this happen. He will not let Test cricket die. The ICC cannot implement a four-day Test without BCCI’s approval.

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He further added, “I want more people from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India to come forward and raise their voice against it. I want legendary cricketers from my country to voice their opinion.”

Many former cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Glenn McGrath, and Ricky Ponting have also raised objection to the proposed four-day Test idea.

Earlier, Ganguly had said, “First we will have to see the proposal, let it come and then we will see. It’s too early to say. Can’t comment just like this.” On the other hand, Sachin said, “Spinners look forward to bowling with the scuffed ball, taking advantage of day five of the roughs created on the wicket. All that is a part of Test cricket. The test is the purest form of cricket. It should not be tinkered with.”

India skipper Virat Kohli also not in favor of the proposal saying it will be unfair to the “purest format of the game”.

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ICC’s increasing demand for event windows, the increase of domestic T20 leagues, BCCI’s demands for its own sizable share of bilateral calendar space, and the costs of staging Test series are all said to be the factors contributing to the move.